Police shoot drug suspect in Riverdale

March 10, 2010

State officials are investigating a police-involved shooting in south suburban Riverdale that left one man hospitalized and another man in police custody today, officials said.

The men, who have not been charged with a crime, were the subjects of an ongoing narcotics investigation in the suburb, said Steve Patterson, a spokesman for the Cook County Sheriff's office which assisted in the case.

The incident began a shortly before noon today at 138th and Halsted streets when Riverdale police assisted by three Cook County Sheriff's officers tried to pull over a minivan driven by the target of the investigation in a gas station, Patterson and Riverdale police said. Another man was also in the van in the passenger's seat, Patterson said.

After police tried to pull the van over, the driver attempted to flee and nearly struck a Riverdale officer, Patterson said. Riverdale police fired shots at the van and the men fled east on 138th Street, Riverdale police said in a statement.

The suspects' vehicle smashed into several cars as the men tried to flee, said Riverdale Police Chief Hollis Dorrough.

The men made it about a half-mile away when their van was "disabled." They attempted to flee on foot, but police quickly grabbed the driver, who had been shot, Patterson said.

The second man was captured a short time later not far from the van, Patterson said.

Two sheriff's officers were taken to an area hospital where they were treated and released, Patterson said. One of the officers was injured in an accident related to the chase while the second officer suffered minor injuries in the foot pursuit. A Riverdale officer also received minor injuries, officials said.

The condition of the man who was shot was not available, officials said.

Sheriff's officers never fired their weapons, Patterson said.

Police recovered a weapon and drugs, Dorrough said.

The investigation has been turned over to the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Unit, Riverdale police said in a statement.